Help Basim, a star of the Hands Up Project
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If you know the work of the Hands Up Project, you may have met a young man from Gaza called Basim.
Basim was the star and co-writer of I can, a powerful piece of remote theatre, and a winner in the The Hands Up Project 2018 competition.
The play is about the power of a child's naive optimism. I remember seeing it for the first time. I remember the impact of seeing the 10-year-old Basim talk about his hopes and dreams for the future: to become a doctor, to travel the world, to live in peace.
But in response to each of these very humble ambitions, his older and more worldly co-actors are quick to point out the obstacles in his way.
Despite this, Basim’s childlike hope and determination shine through and lead us to an iconic ending scene that will stay with you.
Basim has had to deal with many obstacles in his life. At the age of 10 years old, he was injured in his bedroom when a missile destroyed his home during the 2014 Gaza war.
In the photograph below, you can see him sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by friends and family members with his home in the background.
Basim and his family had to rebuild their home in Khan Yunis, the second largest city in Gaza.
Nine years later, their new home was destroyed in the current conflict. Basim and his family are currently living in a tent in Rafah.
Basim writes:
“My father and my mother have been suffering since that moment. My brothers Fawzi and Abdel suffer from fear and cannot sleep. We are hungry. We need food and safety. But prices are rising. We want to go to safety to Egypt to save my family. I hope you can help us.”
At the age of 19, Basim has not let go of hope. Despite being displaced twice, he still talks about going home and finding a way to continue with his education, even though the university where he was studying engineering has been destroyed.
Despite, or perhaps because of everything that he's been through, Basim has decided to produce a new version of his play I can. He has managed to find the two other original cast members – Mahmoud and Abid – and a new perforce will be announced here soon (watch the notifications below).
It would cost up to tens of thousands of euros to relocate Basim and his family to Egypt where they would find safety. But they also need basic everyday supplies. So if you could donate anything to support Basim and his family, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much!
Jamie Keddie
Hands Up Project affiliate
Barcelona, 2024
Information for GoFundMe
- My full name: James Richard Keddie
- My connection to Basim: I run a teaching community called LessonStream. We are an affiliate of the Hands Up Project –a British charity that provides opportunities for school children in difficult places, especially Gaza. Basim has taken part in Hands Up Project activities and asked for help to set up a crowdfunding campaign.
- Recipient’s location: Rafah, Gaza (displaced from Khan Yunis)
- Purpose of fundraising: Since the beginning of the war, the family of six has been surviving on tinned foods and two or three distributed meals. They need the most basic supplies and the hope is to relocate them to Egypt (although I know how expensive this is).
- Transfer method: Western Union (most likely)
- Recipients (over 18 years old):
Helmi Ibrahim Mustafa Hejazy (27/11/1969)
Nibal Fawzi Mahmoud Masri (17/3/1981)
Basim Helmi Ibrahim Hejazy (25/2/2005)
Organizer
Jamie Keddie
Organizer
Barcelona, CT